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The Real Estate Shark's Guide: Why Home Inspections are Essential at Every Stage of New Construction in Colorado

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Welcome, fellow homebuyers and real estate enthusiasts, to The Real Estate Shark's corner! Today, we're diving deep into the topic of new construction homes in Colorado and why getting a home inspection at every stage of the process is absolutely crucial. From breaking ground to the final walkthrough, ensuring your new home is built to the [...]

Shark Buying Process: The Funnel

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In a market growing with options, buyers face the challenge of ensuring they explore all possibilities thoroughly, while not missing out on the home of their dreams. With over 10,000 active or coming soon listings in Colorado alone, the task of uncovering your dream home may appear daunting and nearly impossible to achieve. Having that many options, some buyers worry about what they’ll miss if they commit to a home early on in the search.

This is where our Shark Buying Processes stand out from the pack. We fondly refer to this stage of the process as the "The Funnel". Prior to arranging home showings, your WH Realty Company REALTOR will engage in a detailed discussion with you to understand your preferences, requirements, objectives, and expectations. By filtering out properties that do not align with your specific criteria regarding size, location, and price, thousands of homes are swiftly eliminated, leaving you with a refined selection.

From your refined search, every potential property is considered in "The funnel," encompassing listings in the MLS, new construction homes, properties for sale by owners, coming soon listings, auctions, and foreclosures. Through a systematic process of elimination guided by your preferences rather than random selections, your agent will assist you in identifying your "rolling top 3" homes This adaptable approach allows for evolving preferences based on what you observe during the initial home viewings. After seeing a handful of homes you may determine you no longer want to consider homes with stairs, or you decide you prefer a larger backyard, focusing on the why behind the want will help you identify your rolling top 3 even as they change.

By thoroughly evaluating all options and refining choices based on your preferences, you empower yourself to confidently pursue the home that checks all the boxes, secure in the knowledge that you have explored all viable options by process of elimination not random selection.

The essence of our approach lies in simplicity. While real estate agent processes can sometimes be needlessly complex to convey professionalism or expertise, our focus remains on understanding the core motivations behind your needs and desires. By simplifying the real estate experience, we provide you with a seamless, stress-free journey through the world of real estate.

Want to learn more about our Shark Buying Process? Get in touch with us!

 

Brandi Wright, The Real Estate Shark 

Homeowner's Complete Guide to Preventing Slip & Falls and How to Properly Use Ice Melt

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This winter has given Colorado its fair share of snowfall, even before Colorado's traditionally snowiest months. With almost guaranteed more on the way, how can you safeguard your sidewalk, driveway, and pedestrian traffic without incurring exorbitant costs for ice-melt damage repairs? Educate yourself on the different ice [...]

Have You Considered a Home Warranty?

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Have you considered investing in a home warranty?

Before you dismiss this post, please know that I am not attempting to extend your vehicle’s warranty. A home warranty can be a valuable asset!

Picture this scenario: you've recently closed on your new home, and as you start to move in, you realize that your air conditioner is not working. If you were left to deal with this situation on your own, would you know who to contact? Would you be able to afford a repair or replacement if necessary? A home warranty is similar to a service contract that covers the cost of repair or replacement of any covered items, typically the major functions and appliances of your home. Your warranty provider may also recommend vendors and guide you through the repair process, saving you thousands of dollars if you purchase from a reputable company.

Home warranties have garnered a negative reputation because those in the industry have failed to explain them correctly to homeowners. Are home warranties a catch-all solution that covers everything? No, that would be a poor business model. Instead, think of a home warranty as similar to a builder's warranty for a new construction home. If you call the builder and say your window is broken because your child threw a baseball through it, the builder will likely tell you that it's not their problem. However, if you call the builder and say your furnace isn't working, and you have no idea why even though you've followed the owner's manual, chances are you will be covered. Another example is your automobile warranty. If you call the dealership and say your car broke down, but you've never changed the oil, the manufacturer will likely tell you to pay up or get lost. The same applies here: as long as your home is well-maintained and cared for, you will be covered.

What isn't covered by a home warranty? Depending on the package you choose, items such as flooring, furniture, doors, and small appliances may not be covered.

So, how much does a home warranty cost? Prices vary depending on the service provider and the coverage you select. At WH Realty Company, we have partnered with 2-10 Home Warranty for years and recommend their Supreme package. This package includes supreme coverage for AC and heat pumps, appliances, electricals, heating, and plumbing, as well as lock and hardware replacements under the "Happy Home" plan. All service calls under this plan are $100, and it costs $625 for 12 months of coverage.

 

Check out 2-10's Home Warranty Brochure Here 

To Stage or Not To Stage

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The age-old question of whether to stage your home or has garnered significant attention in recent times. In January 2021, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) conducted a survey that involved 58,300 active Realtors throughout the US, focusing on home staging. The survey revealed that 82% of buyers' agents found it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home when the house was staged. Additionally, 41% of buyers were more willing to see a home in person after viewing beautifully designed online images of the property.

Despite our best efforts to make logical home purchases, buyers are often swayed by emotional factors. As a seller, your goal is to create an emotional connection that will make negotiating inspection resolution items, appraisal gap issues, and any other potential problems that might arise much easier on your sanity.

If you are worried about the cost of staging your home, fear not! Staging doesn't always require a professional designer to furnish your entire home. The most commonly staged rooms include living rooms, kitchens, primary bedrooms, dining rooms, and home office spaces. In most cases, you only need to stage the high-impact areas that attract buyers' eyes.

While your home can sell without staging, according to NAR's survey, not staging your home could mean leaving anywhere from 1%-5% of potential profit on the table. On a $650k house, that's as much as $32,000. If money is tight, you can work with an agent who offers a concierge package or seek the assistance of a designer who can help you lay out your current furniture in the most favorable layout.

Another factor to consider is the risk of contract termination, with anywhere from 30%-35% of all contracts terminating before getting to closing. Buyers falling out of love with the home due to buyer's remorse is one of the significant reasons for contract termination. In most cases, buyers include a significant amount of cash to bring to closing, which is great until they realize they have to come up with that considerable amount of cash to close. Helping them create an emotional connection with the home early can help soften that blow and lower your risk of termination as the contract goes through the various steps to get to closing.

Appraisers are not technically looking at the interior design of your home, but they are human. A perfectly presented home is likely to have a higher appraised value. Spending less than $2k to furnish and professionally design your home can prevent a buyer from terminating the contract due to a significant appraisal gap, which costs more than $2,000 to go back on the market and find another buyer.

Just like preparing for a first date, you shower, shave, and style your hair to present the best version of yourself. The same applies when listing your home. Builders stage their model homes to show as a "perfect 10." When possible, repeat and duplicate what has already been proven to work.

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